Invitation to a new Vision - November 5, 2003
Last year, Green Pastures, Inc. celebrated 25
years of God’s providence. He has blessed us,
through supporters of many faiths and
backgrounds, with the resources to provide
residential care to children with multiple
disabilities.
We have built a family of these children with
physical and developmental challenges. Those
lacking understanding might believe these
children are unable to grow in faith or skill,
or to bring joy to others' lives. But, 25 years
ago, our founders (and hundreds of staff,
volunteers and friends thereafter) recognized
God’s vision for ALL children – that they are
beautiful, valuable, and can feel AND GIVE joy
beyond measure. In fulfilling that vision, we
have raised and challenged individuals in a
family environment which heeds God’s message
that we are all "fearfully and wonderfully
made."
Now, we invite you to share the vision God
has displayed for the next chapter in Green
Pasture’s family life. The 31 children we have
served so far have touched countless lives, as
anyone who has served these children will
attest.
However, we have only touched the tip of our
community's need for services to families with
children like those who have lived at Green
Pastures. Please help us to launch our new
program, bringing the heart, skills and passion
of Green Pasture’s last 25 years out into the
community. Help us to give families the support
that will allow them to fulfill God’s vision for
the children they are struggling to raise.
Stories abound of the joy experienced by
those who have lived with these wonderful
children. But, we cannot afford illusions. For
all of that joy, it is hard work to raise a
child who cannot express himself, or dress
herself, or bathe, or do any of the countless
tasks that each of us takes for granted in daily
life, to raise a child who can never be left
alone, or who must be coached day after day to
gain basic cognitive skills to understand how to
interact with the world around her.
In Santa Clara County alone, an estimated
7,000 to 9,000 families have children with
developmental disabilities. With increasing
regulations and decreasing governmental support,
they are being stretched tighter and tighter.
Green Pastures will serve and uplift these
families so they do not become overwhelmed and
have to give their children over to outside
residential care. With your support, we can
- Assist families in navigating the morass
of government regulations;
- Provide their children with temporary
respite care so the parents can take
well-earned rests;
- Teach them skills to help their children
achieve the true potential God has planned
for their lives;
- Offer spiritual and emotional support
when the strains of daily life become too
much to bear alone;
- Offer more of the many services needed
by these families, which are so rare in our
community.
Green Pastures held a fund raising banquet on
Sunday, October 12th, 2003. We will use the
funds, in part, to continue our program of
residential care.
The more important use, however, will be to
fund our new program of family support designed
to give families the skills, knowledge, and
assistance they need to keep their children at
home and feel the joy of raising a child with
extraordinary needs. God has placed this
critical mission in our path and on our hearts.
Extensive funding is needed to launch our
program. We need your support to make it a
success. Will you help?
In His loving care,
David S. Caplan,
President of the Board
|
